The changes in the relative biomass growth rate of plants reveal the different interaction modes under high-stress

Abstract

The growth of plants is influenced by competition and facilitation with neighboring plants. Most studies have focused on the impact of competition on the growth rate of key plants. It is worth noting that under high-stress conditions, the combined impact of facilitation and competition interactions on the growth rate of plant biomass has not been fully explored. In this study, we utilized the zone-of-influence Model (ZOI) to simulate the growth of saplings and adult trees under different interaction modes. Our research results indicate that the interaction can alleviate or even reverse the decline in the relative biomass growth rate of plants. This depends on the competitive and facilitation modes that the plant has gone through. By adjusting parameters such as population structure, interaction modes, and individual size in ZOI, the actual growth conditions of field plants can be simulated. We found that the actual relative biomass growth rate of Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A. Mey.) changes over time, reflecting the competitive and facilitation modes at different developmental stages, and emphasizing the dynamic nature of interactions during plant growth.